Taylor Simone Ledward Accepts Chadwick Boseman’s SAG Award
Chadwick Boseman was honored at the 27th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, April 4th, 2021, for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The beloved Boseman, who played King T’Challa in Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, died in August 2020 of colon cancer so his widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, has been accepting awards on his behalf as of late, and Sunday night was no different.
27th SAG Award Show Honors Chadwick Boseman
The 27th Screen Actors Guild Awards honored 2020’s best achievements in film and television performances. However, due to COVID-19 era changes to protect the guild’s nominees and presenters, the shortened one-hour ceremony was a hybrid event, in which some presenters and nominees attended the in person event at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, while others joined via telecast.
Chadwick Boseman and Taylor Simone Ledward at 91st Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California. Photo: Getty Images
Boseman set a new SAG Awards record with four nominations in a single ceremony: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Da 5 Bloods, and Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for his performance as part of the ensemble on both films.
Taylor Simone Ledward Accepts SAG Award
Ultimately, Boseman posthumously won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as Levee Green in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, making it the second time a lead actor has won the award posthumously and the second SAG Award win for the actor (following the Black Panther cast win in 2019).
Photo: SAG
In the late actor’s stead, his widow, Simone Ledward, accepted the award with a powerful speech for audience members watching at home. “If you see the world unbalanced, be a crusader that pushes heavily on the seesaw of the mind. That’s a quote by Chadwick Boseman. Thank you Screen Actors, thank you Chadwick. Thank you,” she said.
A legacy that continues to live on in our hearts and on our screens. Thank you, @chadwickboseman, for your lasting gift. #sagawards @MaRaineyFilmpic.twitter.com/0lnA6luxkS
— SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) April 5, 2021
This is the second posthumous win for Boseman. At the 2021 Golden Globe Awards, he became the first actor since 1976 to win a posthumous Globe for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Remembering Boseman…
In addition to his wife’s speech, Boseman was honored throughout the 2021 SAG Awards, with fellow actors Viola Davis and Daniel Kaluuya mentioning their memories of him during their acceptance speeches. Additionally, the late Black Panther actor was remembered by playwright August Wilson and actor Denzel Washington, and spotlighted in the ceremony’s “In Memoriam” section, as well.
What is your favorite Boseman film? Let Marvel Blog know in the comments!
